In the earlier lessons we have learnt about supporting details. In the following lessons let us learn the vocabulary that supports descriptions.

Sentences require describing words for descriptions. These describing words or adjectives help us to define and illustrate the supporting details.

What are describing words?

Describing words are used to describe something or someone. They describe the noun in detail by assigning an attribute to it. There are many descriptive adjectives since there are a big number of nouns.
Descriptive adjectives can be divided into different categories such as colours, sizes, sound, taste, shapes, qualities, time, personality and ages.

Functions of Adjectives

Adjectives describe feelings or qualities

He is a lonely man.

She is a kind woman.

Adjectives speak of nationality or origin

Kusum is an Indian.

I like Italian noodles.

Adjectives tell about characteristic features

This is a brass idol.

The knife is blunt.

Adjectives speak about age

The old man is too weak to walk.

The new born baby weighs three pounds.

Adjectives speak about size and measurement

Harish is a fat boy.

It is a very long journey.

Adjectives describe colour

Mahesh wore a red shirt.

The sunset was crimson and gold.

Adjectives describe material or what something is made of

This is a glass vase.

She wore a satin dress.

Adjectives describe shapes

The earth is round.

My friend gifted me a square dial watch.

Note: Adjectives are invariable. They do not change their form depending on the gender or number of the noun. Thus, describing words add details and explain the theme. Let us look into our model paragraph and analyse describing words or adjectives.

The Human Body

The human body is a wonderful piece of work that nature has created. It is not beautiful like the body of a butterfly or a peacock but it is shaped practically. It can do many types of work which other animals cannot. It is not strong like the body of a tiger. But in place of physical strength it has a big and sharp brain. By using this brain the human physique has been able to overcome many of its limitations. By sitting in an aeroplane it flies faster than a kite, by riding a motorcycle it travels faster than a leopard, and by firing a machine gun it fights much better than a tiger. In spite of all this, the human body suffers from many diseases because it has a weakness for habits such as smoking, drinking and overeating. When it is healthy the body can give great pleasure but when it is sick it can cause great pain. The wise man would always keep his body fit because a healthy mind can work only in a healthy body.

Wonderful describes how astonishingly the human body is made.

Beautiful describes how lovely a butterfly looks.

Other speaks of how different or distinct the human body is when compared to the bodies of other animals.